Baptism is the gateway to the other Sacraments as it is the first Sacrament of Initiation. I invite you to take some time and explore this section to learn more about the great Sacrament of Baptism

Rite of Baptism with Commentary

Rite of Baptism

Spiritual Commentary

IntroductionCelebrant: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy SpiritAll: Amen

Celebrant: The Lord be with youAll: And also with you

Introduction: The fact that the Rite of Baptisms begins with the Sign of the Cross is extremely fitting since the Sign of the Cross summarizes our faith. We profess that we believe that God has saved us from the sin through the Cross of Christ. The Sign of the Cross also states our belief in the Most Holy Trinity.

Celebrant: What name do you give you child?Parents:N.

Naming: The second important act at the beginning of the rite is the official naming of the child. As human beings we are both spirit and matter (soul and body) and as human beings we express this through our name. When we see someone walking down the street we do not say "look at that collection of molecules" but rather we say "look here comes Suzie or Jim."

Celebrant: What do you ask of God’s Church for N.?Parents: Baptism

Asking: The parents ask for their child to be baptized reminding all present that baptism is a gift from God and nothing that we have earned or have a right too.

Celebrant: You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him/her up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?Parents: We do

Celebrant: Godparents are you ready to help his/her parents in their duty as Christian mother and father?Godparents: We are

Celebrant:N. the Christian Community welcomes you with great joy. In its name I claim you for Christ our Savior by the sign of his cross. I now trace the cross on your forehead and invite your parents and godparents to do the same.Celebrant signs the child on the forehead in silence. Then he invites the parents and godparents to do the same

Signing of the Cross: To mark the full introduction into the Catholic faith the child is marked with the Sign of the Cross on his or her forehead. There is a lot of symbolism here from the Book of Ezekiel and the Book of Revelation where those who are saved from destruction are marked with the Sign of the Cross on their forehead.

Liturgy of the WordCelebrant: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark People were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them. The Gospel of the Lord All: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture: A reading normally comes next. It is a reminder to us that this sacrament comes from God's larger plan and can be found in Sacred Scripture. I use this passage from St. Mark as a reminder that we do not earn Baptism but it is a gift that God gives us.

Prayers of the FaithfulCelebrant: My brothers and sisters, let us ask our Lord Jesus Christ to look lovingly upon this child who is to be baptized, on his/her parents, and godparents, and on all of us who are the baptized.

Leader: By the mystery of your death and resurrection, bathe this child in light, give him/her the new life of baptism and welcome him/her into your kingdom. We pray to the Lord.All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: Through baptism and confirmation, make him/her your faithful follower and witness to your gospel. We pray to the Lord.All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: Lead him/her by a holy life to the joys of God’s kingdom. We pray to the Lord.All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: Make the lives of his/her parents and godparents examples of faith to inspire N. We pray to the Lord.All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Litany of the Saints: Professing our faith in eternal life, we ask our heavenly family to also join us in our prayers for the child to be baptized.

Prayer of ExorcismCelebrant: Almighty God, You sent your only Son to rescue us from slavery of sin, and to give us the freedom only your sons and daughters enjoy. We now pray for N. who will have to face the world with its temptations, and fight the devil in all his cunning. Your Son died and rose again to save us. By his victory over sin and death, bring him/her out of the power of darkness. Strengthen him/her with the grace of Christ, and watch over him/her at every step in life’s journey. We ask this through Christ our Lord.All: AmenPriest then anoints each child on the breast with the oil of catechumens.

Prayer of Exorcism: This prayer is meant to ask God to rid the child of everything that is not of Him.

Blessing of the WaterCelebrant: My dear brothers and sisters, God uses the sacrament of water to give his divine life to those who believe in him. Let us turn to him and ask him to pour his gift of life from this font on the children he has chosen. - Father, you give us grace through sacramental signs, which tell us of the wonders of your unseen power. - In baptism we use your gift of water, which you have made a rich symbol of the grace you give us in this sacrament. - At the very dawn of creation your Spirit breathed on the waters, making them the wellspring of all holiness. - The waters of the great flood you made a sign of the waters of baptism, that make an end of sin and a new beginning of goodness. - Through the waters of the Red Sea you led Israel out of slavery, to be an image of God’s holy people, set free from sin by baptism. - In the waters of the Jordan your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Spirit. - Your Son willed that water and blood should flow from his side as he hung upon the cross. - After his resurrection he told his disciples: “Go out and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” - Father, look now with love upon your Church, and unseal for her the fountain of baptism. - By the power of the Spirit give to the water of this font the grace of your Son. - You created man in your own likeness: cleanse him from sin in a new birth of innocence by water and the Spirit. Celebrant touches the water with right hand We ask you, Father, with your Son to send the Holy Spirit upon the water of this font. May all who are buried with Christ in the death of baptism rise also with him to newness of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord.All: Amen

Blessing of the Water: The priest or deacon now blesses the water and as he does he recalls some of the great moments in salvation history that involved water.

Renunciation of Sin &Profession of FaithCelebrant: Dear parents and godparents: You have come here to present your child for baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit he/she is to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love. On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring him/her up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life which God gives him/her is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger his/her hearts. If your faith makes you ready to accept this responsibility, renew now the vows of your own baptism. Reject sin; profess your faith in Christ Jesus. This is the faith of the Church. This is the faith in which your child is about to be baptized.

Celebrant: Do you reject Satan?Parents, godparents, or all: I do

Celebrant: And all his work?Parents, godparents, or all: I do

Celebrant: And all his empty promises?Parents, godparents, or all: I do

Celebrant: Do you believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?Parents, godparents, or all: I do

Celebrant: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?Parents, godparents, or all: I do

Celebrant: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?Parents, godparents, or all: I

Celebrant: This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.All: Amen:

Renunciation of Sin & Profession of Faith: It is now time for to state what it is that we believe in and what it is that we are willing to give up in order to live the faith.

BaptismCelebrant:N. I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism: The actual baptism now takes place and as we watch the priest or deacon pouring water over the head of the child and proclaiming the Trinitarian formula, God is actually adopting the child and making the child a son or daughter of God.

Anointing With ChrismCelebrant: God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as members of his body, sharing everlasting life.All: Amen

Celebrant then anoints each child on the crown of its forehead with chrism in silence.

Anointing with Chrism: Child is now anointed with the Sacred Chrism. The symbolism is that the child is now a priest (he or she can offer their lives to God), a prophet (he or she is now called to proclaim Christ to the world), and king (he or she is now called to follow Christ's example of servant leadership.) Chrism also connects us with the larger Church since it is blessed by the Bishop at the Chrism Mass.

Clothing W/ White GarmentCelebrant: N. you have become a new creation, and have clothed yourselves in Christ. See in this white garment the outward sign of our Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.All: Amen

Clothing with White Garment: This is more symbolic than anything now days since most children come dressed in a white garment. It is a reminder that in Christ we are made clean.

Baptismal CandleCelebrant: Receive the Light of Christ

Godparents then light the baptismal candle from the Easter candle.Celebrant: Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. Your child has been enlightened by Christ. He/she is to walk always as a child of the light. May he/she keep the flame of faith alive in his/hers heart. When the Lord comes, may he/she go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.

Baptism Candle: Godparents are now asked to light the baptism candle from the Easter Candle. It is a reminder that we are the light of the world and we are no longer people of darkness.

EphphathaCelebrant: The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May he soon touch your ears to receive his word and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father.All: Amen

Celebrant then goes and touches the mouth and the ears.

Ephphatha: The ephphatha is an ancient blessing of the ears and mouth of the newly baptized child taken from Scripture.

Our FatherCelebrant: Dearly beloved, N. has been reborn in baptism. He/she is now called a child of God, for so indeed he/she is. In confirmation he/she will receive the fullness of God’s Spirit. In Holy Communion he/she will share the banquet of Christ’s sacrifice, calling God his/her Father in the midst of the Church. In his/her name, in the Spirit of our common adoption, let us pray together in the words our Lord has given us.

All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

Our Father: Now that we are all children of God, we offer the prayer that Jesus taught us.

Blessing

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.All: And also with you

Celebrant: Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing.Celebrant: May God the almighty Father, who filled the world with joy by giving us his only Son, bless this newly baptized child. May he/she grow to be more fully like Jesus Christ our Lord.All: Amen

Celebrant: May almighty God, who gives life on earth and in heaven, bless the parents of this child. They thank him now for the gift he has given them. May they always show that gratitude in action by loving and caring for N.All: Amen

Celebrant: May almighty God, who has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit generously bless all of us who are his faithful children. May we always live as his people, and may he bless all here present with his peace.All: Amen

Celebrant: May Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless you.All: Amen

God Parents

3. Help him/her to grow in the faith of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

4. Give every encouragement to follow Christ and fight against evil

Questions to ask yourself before agreeing to be a Godparent

Are your views on religion, spirituality and morality similar to the child's parents? If they are, all well and good. If not, this need not be an obstacle: the parents may have chosen you because your views are different. But make sure the parents know your views and are happy with them before you decide to accept. There is a surprising number of fantastic Godparents out there who are non-Christian but still bring up their Godchildren within the spirit of the Christian values.

Are you ready to help the parents of this child in their duty as Christian parents? Being a Godparent involves developing a relationship with the child and helping the parents in his/her spiritual upbringing. There are many different ways of carrying out your duties as Godparent, but one of the most important things to do is to build a relationship with your Godchild. Make time to see your godchild as regularly as you can. Try to give him or her one-to-one attention: find out what makes them tick, what makes them happy or sad. Spending time with your godchild can be very rewarding (for you both).

Do you have an interest in the child's well-being? If you really cannot tolerate children maybe you should say so now rather than agreeing and then disappointing later. But bear in mind that many Godparents find they only really begin to establish a relationship with their Godchild when he/she reaches teenage or beyond.

Suggestions 1. Take time to get to know your Godchild 2. Make sure to give them a religious gift at Christmas and Easter 3. Write them a card or take them out to lunch on their baptism anniversary 4. Remind them that you are there to help them grow in their faith 5. As they get older challenge them to grow in their faith. Maybe you could do a joint service project together.